Machine for gaging and distributing articles of different thicknesses.



I L. L. D. ELDERKIN. MACHINE FOR GAGING AND DISTRIBUTING ARTICLES OFDIFFERENT THIGKNESSBS.

APPLIOATIONIILED FEB. a, 1910.

1,078,778.- Patented Nov. 18, 1913. 5 LS r 4 BHEETSSHEBT 1.

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1,078,778, Patented Nov. 18, 1913.

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x Z I L. L. D. ELDERKIN. MACHINE FOR GAGING AND DISTRIBUTING ARTICLES OFDIFFERENT THIGKNESSES. APPLICATION FILED rmm, 1910.

1,078,778. Patented Nov. 18,1913.

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APPLIGATION FILED rm. 3, 1910 Patented Nov. 18, 1913.

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J wvesaaax time and the expenseof skilled labor reqn'lredfon sortingarticles in this way entra n STATES Parana onrioiif.

LESTER L. D. ELDERKIEN, OF BOSTON, MASSACH USETTS.

mama Eon GAGING AND nrs'rnr'iz'urmo ARTICLES or DIFFERENT THICKNESSES.

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To a'fil' whomc't may concern Be it known that I, LESTER L. D. ELDERKIN, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts,have inventedjcertain new and useful Improvements in Ma chines for Gaing and Distributing Articles of'Diiier'ent thicknesses, of which the 01lowingis a specification.

This'inven-tion relates to mechanism for gaging the thickness of variousarticles and 1s combined: withwork-carryingmechanism and with automaticmechanismby which the work-engaging means is caused todischargeor"release the articles at various oints so thata mass ofarticles'of various tlllCkIlQSSGS' may be sorted and deposited" atdifierent pointsaccording to th'elr relative thickness;

In themanu'tact'ure of boots and shoes, the blanks-of leather which aresubsequently incorporatdirrtothe bootsand shoes as soles andheei-lifts-are out or' died from hides which vary in thickness at 5difl'erent points:

The result of the cutting or dieing operation isthat the soles -or*liftsbecome indiscriminately intermingled without regard to their 5thicknessand it" is therefore necessary to separate them into variouslots; each lot' comprising-only tliose soles or'lifts which are ofapproximately equal'thickness: Hithcite the separating or sortin of thesoles or lifts has been accomplish manually by:

inserting-thearticles one by one betwe'en'cm operative member's of agaging mechanism' which is provided-withindicating means by which theoperatoris advised as to the thickness ofthe article. The operator,after obtaining anindication of'the thick ness,- depositsthe article inan appropriate rccept-acle designated for articles of a particularthickness; The consumption of Warrant the provision ofa machine whichmay automatically gage the thickness of the articles introduced to itand carry the articles to various-points and disoh arge'them at variouspoints according to their thick-v ness so that all of such articles asare of one thicknessmay be deposited at" one point and those of otherthicknesses may be deposited respectively at other. pointsa Totlris endthepr'esent invention pro- Videswi machine comhining' work gaging andcarry-in means for carrying articles of variousfthic mess, and means foreffecting the-release =of' fhe=-articles by thecarrying Specification ofBatters-Patent.

Patented Nov. 18; 1913.

Application fileii February 3, 1910. SerialNo. Eel-778.

companying drawings show a machine of the above "specified characterwhichis especially adapted to gage anddeposi't articles such assol'esand lifts. I

A filrther object of the intention is' to gagethe thickness'of-eacharticle at'a' plurality of points. Thisis accomplished by in'-'dependent calipers whereby the thickness of' the article at one oi theseveral points may begaged' independently of the members which engagethe article at the other of said points.- This feature of the inventionis rovided especially when the machin'is to e'employed for assertingsoles.

It is'cu'stomary in selecting a sole to take as the basis oi -selectionthe thickness of'the sole at theniarginal portion of the torepart; If"the sole is, of' the reqiiired'- thickness" at themarginal portion ofthe forepart, the thickness of the other portions of the sole iscomparatively unimportant. v To those-skilled in the'art, the reason forselectf ing-a sole according to this basis of compari son is WeIIknoWnan'cl requires'no explanation. F'or'the purpose, then of equlppinga sorting machine with means for gaginga sole and 'depositingthe sole,solely w'ithregard to the-thickness of the marginal porf tion of theforepart, the r )resen't invention provides work-ga-ging-and carryingmeans including a-plurality of separate individual movable-jaws orfeelers arranged to engage I the Inarginal'portion of the forepart of asoleat separate points, said jaws or feelers,- howev'er, being-relatedto each other in one' sense as a unit and combined with'means'controlled. by any one or all of sa'idjaw's' or feelers-Tor effectingthe retraction" of the" jaws or feelers and 'the'conseqnentdischarge orrelease "of the sole. It may be desirable :to so organize the jaws orfeelers as to en able the individtlal jaw engaging the point otininimu-mthickness'to control the releas ing'means, whereby thepoint at'whichthe" sole is released and discharged may be 'determined by that point ofthe marginal portion of tlie' for'epart which is of minimum thickness.

Having pro i'deda machine iriclucliiigtlle several mechanismsherembefore recited, it

is desirable to provide recording means whereby the number of articlesdischarged at each of the several discharging points, may be recorded.The present invention therefore includes counting devices, one at eachof the discharging points, said devices being connected and actuated bythe releasing means whereby the number of articles discharged ateachpoint is recorded.

Of the accompanying drawings which illustrate a machine forautomatically gaging and distributing articles, Figure 1 represents atop plan view of a machine embodying one form and arrangement ofmechanisms adapted especially to the gaging and distributing of heellifts. Fig. 2 represents a vertical section of said machine on line 22of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 representsa horizontal edge elevation, of one of thegaging and carrying devices with which the machine is provided. Fig. 4represents a vertical section on line 14 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 represents asimilar vertical section in which the gaging mechanism is in a differentposition. Fig. 6 represents a vertical section of said machine includingmeans for holding an article in position to be received by the gagingand carrying means. Fig. 7 represents a vertical section of a form ofgaging and carrying mechanism especially adapted for gaging the marginalportion of the forepart of a sole. Fig. 8 represents an elevation of thegaging mechanism included in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 represents a plan view of afragment of the carrying means included in Figs. 7

and 8. Fig. 10 represents an elevation of a shoe sole blank. Fig. 11represents an elevation of a shoe sole blank. Fig. 12 represents aperspective view of a spring follower.

Similar reference characters indicate the same parts wherever theyoccur.

Referring first to the form illustrated by Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, themachine consists essentially of a rotary carrier which is mounted torotate about a vertical axis, and which is rotated by mechanism whichrenders its rotary movement continuous and uniform. The carrier issubstantially circular and at or near its periphery are mounted a seriesof gaging devices each of which. is adapted to receive and carry asingle article. The gaging devices therefore move continuously in acircular path and they are supplemented by a series ofstation arydevices with which the aging devices are adapted to cooperate to effectthe release and discharge of the articles. The several gaging devicesare identical in construction and arrangement and the several releasingdevices are identical in their operation, but differ slightly inconstruction and in their arrangement. All of thegaging devices.however, are adapted to cooperate with all of the releasing devices, butthe gaging devices are positioned independently of each other by theseveral pieces of work and they are therefore controlled by the work andthereby caused to effect selective cooperation with any one of theseveral releasing devices.

The structure of the machine herein illustrated includes an upstandingbase 10 formed with a horizontal shoulder 11 and a cylindrical portion12 extending vertically...

The shoulder 11' and cylindrical portitn 12 13 continuously includes agear 16 aflixed to said table, a pinion 17 intermeshed with said gear, ashaft 18 carrying the pinion 17 and also carrying a bevel gear 19. Theshaft 18 is journaled in a boss 20 supported by the stationary table 14.The table 14 also sup ports brackets 21, 21, which furnish bearings fora shaft 22. The shaft 22 is provided with a bevel gear 23 engaging thegear 19 and with one or more pulleys. The drawing includes two pulleysindicated respectively, at 24 and 25, said pulleys being respectivelytight and loose, and a belt connected to a. source of power.

At the periphery of the rotary table 13 is a series of stationary jaws,each stationary jaw being associated with a movable jaw. The jaws asshown by the drawings comprise depending blocks or plates 26 andadjustable screw-headed studs 27 carried by said plates. These jaws arepreferably arranged equi-distantly around the periphery of the table andmay be more or less in number than those shown. The number provided forthe machine illustrated is eight. The screws 27 extend inwardly andradially and their inner ends constitute abutments which engage onesurface of a lift to be gaged. The opposite surface of the lift isengaged by 'a movable jaw 28 arranged in a recess in the table 13 andmounted upon a pivot stud 29. The axis of the stud 29 I extendssubstantially parallel to the direction in which it moves when thecarriage rotates, and the jaw 28 depending therefrom is thereforeadapted to move radially with relation to the carriage when approachingthe stationary jaw. The worlcengaging surfaces of the stationary andmovable jaws are substantially parallel to their direction of carryingmovement and a lift such as that indicated at :0, Figs. 3 and 4 whenheld by and between the jaws, is held in a vertical position with itsbroad surfaces extending substantially parallel to the direction inwhich the lift is carried. Each movable jaw 28 is provided with annected to the arms 30 exert their tension to close the jaws 28 and thelifts which are introduced between the cotiperative jaws are supportedby reason of the yielding tension due to said springs. I

At "the point where the lifts are intro duced to the machine, it may bedesirable to provide a device for holding the lifts one at a time, untilthey are grasped and removed by the carrying jaws. A device for thispurpose is illustrated by Fig. 6. and includes a fixed arm 32 and astationary spring arm 33 arranged to cooperate with the end of the arm32. The abutting ends of the two arms meet at a point slightly below thehorizontal plane of the work-engaging jaws and they are so arranged asto permit insertion of a lift by an upward edgewise movement of thelift. The spring arm 33 is here shown as supported by a bracket 34,aflixed to the central standard 10. A lift may be inserted between andheld by the arms 32 and 33 at any time and-the next pair of jaws toarrive at the point where the lift is so supported is initially opened,the movable jaw 28 being permitted to close in response to the tensionof its spring 31, in passing the lift held between the arms. In this waythe lift is grasped by the jaws and is carried edgewise and removed fromthe supporting arms and continues to be carried a by the jaws until themovable jaw is subsequently opened against the tension of its spring 31.

Referring now to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the reference charactersA, B, C, H, I and J are arranged in an arc concentric to the axis ofrotation of the table 13. The letter A indicates the receiving point, orin other words, the pointat which the lifts are introduced to themachine. The direction of rotation of the table 13 is indicated by anarrow and the lifts grasped by the jaws 27, 28, are therefore carried topoints B, O, H, I and J, and to such intermediate points as arepresumably included for a complete machine. The letter B is used here torepresent the first of a series of points of discharge and the remainingletters indicate the succeeding points of discharge. The pointsdesignated by the letters B to J inclusive may, if desired, beconsidered as representing receptacles for the reception of the liftswhich are discharged. The releasing mechanism by which the movable jaws28 are opened comprises a detector at the upper end of each of the arms30 and a series of actuating members pivotally mounted upon the stationary table 14, and arranged to be engaged by the detectors. Thepositions of the several detectors are of course determined by thethickness of the lifts in the jaws and the actuators which are engagedby the detectors are preferably arranged to efiect the release of liftsof minimum thickness at receptacle B and the release of the lifts ofgreater thickness at the successive receptacles according to therelative thickness of the lifts so that the lifts of maximum thicknessmay pass all of the intermediate receptacles and be discharged at thelast rcccptacl-e of the series at J.

The construction of one of the detectors is illustrated by Figs. 2 to 5inclusive. The detectors are indicated at 35. They are $6- cured at theupper ends of the arms 30 b screws or bolts 36 which extend throng slots'37 in said arms. The slots permit'adjustability of the detectors in adirection toward or from the axis of the table 13 and the adjustment maybe determined by set screws 38. The operative portion of each detectoris pointed as shown in plan view by Fig. 1. The detectors point in thedirection of rotation of the table and they are so positioned by reasonof the thickness of the lifts between the jaws that they move in acircle of relatively short radius when controlled by a relatively thinlift and in a circle of relatively great radius when controlled byaliftof maximum thickness. The actuators by which the jaws are opened atthe several points of discharge are indicated respectively at b, 0, ii,h, i, and j. Theseveral actuators are of the same general character butare here shown as differing slightly in shape. The positions of thesuccessive actuators are graduated so as to effect the release of thelifts of minimum thickness at B and of the lifts of greater thickness atthe successive points according to their thickness. The severalactuators are pivotally mounted upon ins or studs 10. The studs extendvertical and the actuators are therefore adapte to swing in a horizontalplane when engaged by the detectors. Each actuatoris initiallypositioned by a set screw. L1 and is normally held against its set screwby a spring &2. The actuators are preferably pointed and arranged tonormally extend in the direction opposite to the direction of rotationof the table 13. The point of the actuator b is relatively near the axisof rotation and the positions of the points of the successive actuatorsare graduated so that each succeeding point is slightly farther from theaxis of rotation than the preceding point: The detector 35-carried by amovable jaw which is engaging a lift of minimum thickness, is positionedby the lift so that it is within the radius of the point of the actuatorb. The detector therefore impinges against the actuator thereby swingingthe actuator outwardly about its pivot 40. The point of the actuatorenters a recess in the detector and 45 opened by the preceding actuatorsand for the detector is therefore moved outwardly by reason of theswinging of the actuator. In this way, the arm 30 is retracted againstthe tension of its spring 31 and the movable jaw 28 is separated from.the lift so that the lift becomes released and may drop into thereceptacle B. When the detector has so far advanced as to leave theactuator b, the latter is returned by its spring 42 to its stop 41 inwhich position it is ready to be engaged by any subsequent detector. Thedetector of a jaw 28 engaging a lift of materially greater thickness ispositioned by the lift so as to avoid the actuator b and the lift istherefore carried to one of the sub sequent points of discharge, thepoint of discharge being determined by the cooperation of the detectorwith the first actuator lying in its path. Each movable jaw 28, uponbeing opened, is locked in open position by a detent shown in the formof a spring follower 43. (See Figs. 3, 4 and 5). A spring follower isprovided for each of the jaws 28. Said followers are mounted in brackets44, mountedupon the rotary table 13, and they are engaged by springs 43which normally tend to move them toward the arms 30. Each arm isprovided with a plate 46, said plate presenting a shoulder 45, (Fig. 2)which cooperates with the follower. When the jaw 28 is closed as shownby Fig. 4, the end of the follower 43 abuts against the side of theplate 46 and does not interfere with the opening of the jaw. \Vhen thearm 30 is retracted a ainst the tension of the spring 31, the en of theplate 46 passes beyond the follower 43 and the follower is thereuponprojected in front of the shoulder and locksthe aw in open position. Allof the jaws which are opened as the result of the action of theactuators b, 0, etc, remain locked in open position until they once morearrive at the receiving point indicated at A. The actuator j is soformed as to effect the opening of all of the aws which are not thisreason it is not necessary to provide an adjustable stop for theactuator nor a spring for normally holding it in one position. Theactuator j may therefore remain stationary at all times and effect theopening of the jaws by reason of its inclined surface j which is adaptedto deflect the detectors which engage it. The jaws approaching thereceiving point A are therefore always open to receive a lift at thepoint A.

When the jaws arrive at point A their spring followers 43 areautomatically retracted so that they may be closed by their springs 31.The means here shown for effecting the retraction of the followers is'shown by Fig. 1. The followers are engaged by bell-cranks 50, eachbell-crank being pivtally mo ed at 51. The bell-crank of each followerengages shoulders formed upon the follower as the result of providing arecess 52 in the follower for the reception of the bell-crank. Thebell-cranks are provided with blocks 53 which engage a stationary cam 54mounted upon the table 14. The cam 54 is so arranged as to efiect amovement of each successive bell-crank to retract the follower 43 whenthe jaws 27, 28 are on opposite sides of a lift held by the stationaryarms 32, 33. If, for any reason, there is no lift in the arms 32, 33,when a pair of jaws is passing said arms, the movable jaw is closed asif there were in fact a lift at that point. All of such jaws as passpoint A without receiving a lift are opened by the first of the seriesof actuators. It is apparent therefore that the actuator b may beencountered as well by detectors of empty jaws as by detectors of jawscarrying lifts of minimum thickness.

It is desirable to count the number of lifts discharged at each point.Counting devices are therefore provided, each of said devices beingconnected to an actuator to count the number of releasing movements oftheactuator. With regard now to the actuators, it will be seen byreference to Fig. 1 that each is connected with a rod. The rods areindicated respectively at 0 d 71?, The several rods are connected toarms 0 d 71. and i of individual meters or indicating devices. Themeters are indicated respectively at 0*, (Z k and i Their particularconstruction and mode of operation are immaterial inasmuch as anysuitable device may be employed for the purpose.

The table 13 may be provided with segmentalstrips 55 of angular crosssection, the

horizontal lips of said strips serving as stops or gages for determiningas. shown by Fig. 4 the horizontal plane of the lifts which are insertedat A between the arms 32, 33. The strips 55 are arranged intermediatelywith relation to the several pairs of jaws 27, 28, and they maysubstantially fill the space between the pairs of aws so that a liftmoved upwardly between the arms 32, 33 at any time may encounter thehorizontal lip of any one of the said strips.

When the machine is to be employed for gaging and distributing solesinstead of heel lifts, the jaws 27, 28, may be omitted and other meansof a somewhat difierent charac ter may be substituted for gaging themarginal portion of the forepart of a sole. Before passing to adescription of the gaging mechanism for gaging a sole, it will be wellto refer to Fig. 10 of the drawings which illustrates a blank sole y. lVhen the solegaging devices hereinafter described are substituted forthe jaws 27, 28 it is proposed to arrange them so that they will beadapted to receive and carry a sole in substantially the same relativeposition that in which such/as that shown by Figs. 7, 8 and 9. In

these figures, brackets such as that indicated at 60 are a iljustablyattached to the periphery f the table by means of screws til which Iextend through recesses 62 formed in the rackets. Each bracket isattached at one side only and is formed to provide a space 63 for thereception of the sole 11 A bracket 60 serves as a jaw against which theouter surface of the sole 2 may be pressed and the present inventionprovides a plurality of complemental jaws or feelers for each jaw 60,said feelers being arranged to engage the inner surface of the sole andto press against the sole with yielding tension. The several feelers ofone group are indicated in Figs. 7 and 8 at 645, 64, and 6 1 and 65.65?, and 65. The table 13 is provided with recesses 64 and 65 for thereception of the jaws or feilers which as shown are arranged in two stirgroups. The several feelers are arranged to engage the marginal portionof the forepart of a solo at the points indicated in Fig. 10 at 4?, 1 4and 5, 5 and 5, respectively. This arrangement may be variedunreservedly, and the present invention intends to include everypossible arrangement and number of feelers.

For example, Fig. 11 illustrates the several points of contact at anequal distance from the edge of the sole. For the sake of convenience inorganizing the several feelers, they may be pivotaily' mounted upon acommon pivot stud. 66, arranged in brackets 67 upon the table 13. Theseveral feelers are provided with individual springs 68 by which theyare normally held against the inner surface of the sole 1 It is thepurpose of the present invention to provide gaging mechanism for eachset of feelers, said gaging mechanism to be controlled by the feelerwhich engages the point of minimum thickness. With each set of feelersis associated an arm 130 which serves the same purpose as the arm 30 inthe structure provided for gaging and distributing heel lifts. In thepresent form, the arm 130 is mounted upon a pivot stud 129, and ex tendsupwardly. A spring 131 connected to the arm 130 tends to move the armaway from the axis of rotation of the table 18. At the upper end of thearm 130.is a detector 135 which may be in all. respects similar to thedetectors 35. The detector 135 may cooperate with a series of actuatorsin all respects like the actuators hereinbefore described and indicatedat b, 0, d, h, 2' and j. The arm 130 may also be providedwith a plate146 to be engaged by a locking bolt or follower 14-3, like the follower43. The upper ends of the feelers are held against a plate 70 affixedupon one end of a bar 71. The bar 71 is pivoted at 72 to the arm 130 andis likewise pivoted at 73 to a link 74 mounted upon a pivot stud 75. Theradius of the l nk 74 is equal to the radius of the arm 1?, with regardto the distance of the pivot 72 from the pivot 129. The distance betweenthe pivots 72 and 73 is equal to the distance between the pivots 75 and129 and the bar 71 may therefore receive an oscillatory motion similarto that of a parallel ruler.

The outer surface of the plate '70 is parallel to the work-engaginsurface of the abutment 60 and the area 0 the plate 70 is such as tocooperate with the upper ends of all of the feelers. As shown by Fig. 7,the feelers are pivoted midway between their extremities and a movementimparted to the lower end of any one of the feelers produces an equalmovement at the upper end. The feelers therefore act with equal effectupon the plate 70 even though their lengths vary. If it is desired toamplify the movement of the detector the feelers may be pivoted nearertheir work-engaging ends. In that event they may have separate pivots.It may be here stated that the spring 131 is relatively light and may beoverpowered by any one of the springs 68, the purpose of providing thespring 131 is chiefly to take up lost motion in the joints of theseveral pivots so that the moving parts may not rattle and so that thedetector may operate withprecision. The arms in the formfirishdescribed, and the arms 130 in the latter form, are analogous topointers or indicators. It is apparent that they would serve the purposeof indicators if they were arranged to cooperate with dials instead ofthe actuators b, 0, (Z, etc.

The mode of retracting the bolt or follower 143 may be in all respectslike that prescribed for the retraction of the bolts 43 so that a solemay be automatically engaged by the feelers at the receiving point inthe rotation of the table 13. When the feelers are released so that theymay engage the sole with yielding tension. the feeler which engages thepoint of minimum thickness will be displaced more than the other feelersand the plate 70 will therefore be displaced and positioned by thefeeler engaging the point of minimum thickness. The position of thedetector 135 is therefore determined by the feeler which engages thepoint of minimum thickness and the cooperative engagement by thedetector with any one of a series of actuators b. c, d, lb, 2', 3', willtherefore control the releasing of the sole in the same manner as thatprescribed for the releasing 'of a heel lift. As here shown thecircuit-engaging surface of the abutment 60 is plane,

but if desired the abutment may be provided with small protuberancesopposite the several feelers. Said protuberances may be either formedintegrally with the abutment 60 or they may be afiorded by individuallyadjustableset screws, (not shown).

It is not intended that the present invention should be limited to thespecific details of construction and arrangement, for various departuresmay be made within the spirit and scope of the invention. For example,since the machine comprises calipers,

and receptacles, it is obvious that either may be moved with relation tothe other to provide for the deposit of the articles in the receptacles.

The operation of the machine is as follows :The articles to be caliperedare inserted between the calipering members at point A (Fig. 1), thecalipering members at this point being released by the statlonary cam 54so that their closing springs 31 may close them. Each article thusgripped by the calipering members is carried thereby until thecalipering members are opened by the appropriate actuator in the series6, c, d, and so forth, the actuator which becomes effective beingdetermined, as hereinbefore described, by the thickness of the articlein the calipers. When the calipers are opened the article is dischargedand the calipers are locked in full open position by their respectivespring followers 43, so that they may not cause the operation of anyother actuators which they may pass before completing a cycle. As eachempty calipering de vice arrives at point A, its spring follower 43 isretracted by the cam 54 as aforesaid, and the calipering members maythen be closed again by their closing spring 31 to grip another article.The operation of all the calipering devices is the same as that justdescribed, each device being permitted to close at the point A and eachbeing opened to discharge an article according to itsthickness at one ofthe several discharging points indicated. Each counting device countsonly the number of articles discharged at the corresponding point.

The term calipers as used in the following claims, is used in its broadsense wherever the function of the jaws or feelers does not depend uponopening or closing movement.

Having thus explained the nature of my said invention and described away of mak ing and using the same, although without attempting to setforth all of the forms in which it may be made-or all of the modes ofits use, I declare that what I claim is:

1. A machine of the character described comprising feelers for engagingone side of a piece of work at a plurality of points, means for engagingthe opposite side of the work in coactive relation with said feelers,

novavva and means for efiecting separation of said feelers and saidcoacting means, said means being controlled through the medium of thefeeler or feelers nearest said coacting means.

2. A machine of the cnaracter described comprising feelers for engagingone side of the work at a plurality of points, a jaw for engaging theopposite side of the work, and I means for retracting all of saidfeelers, said means being controlled through the medium of one of saidfeelers.

3. A machine of the character described comprising a carrier, caliperingjaws carried by said carrier, a detector, means for transmittingmovement from one of said jaws to said detector to position thedetector, and a series of actuators for opening said jaws, each of saidactuators being arranged to be operatively moved by said detector uponmovement of the carrier.

4. A machine of the character described comprising a carrier, aplurality of sets of calipering jaws carried by said carrier, aplurality of detectors, one for each set of said jaws, means fortransmitting movement from said jaws to said detectors to position saiddetectors, and a series of movable members arranged to be engaged andmoved singly by any one of said detectors, each of said movable membersbeing adapted to coact with said detectors to open said jaws completely.I

5. A machine of the character described comprising a carrier, aplurality of sets of calipering jaws carried by said carrier,' aplurality of detectors, one for each set of said jaws, means fortransmitting movement from the jaws of each set-to the detector of eachset to position said detectors, a series of movable members adapted tobe severally moved by and to severally move said detectors, said movablemembers being adapted to open said jaws completely at pointscorresponding to the location of the several movable members, and meansfor adjusting said movable members to vary their range of coaction withsaid detectors.

6. A machine of the-character described comprising a carrier, aplurality of sets of spring-closed calipering jaws carried thereby, aplurality of detectors, connections between said sets of jaws and saiddetectors whereby said jaws may position said detectors, a plurality ofmeans for completely opening each set of said jaws at any one of aplurality of points, said means being determined and operated by saiddetectors, detents for holding the retracted jaws in open position, andmeans for moving said detents to release said retracted jaws.

7. A machine of the character described comprising a plurality offeelers for engaging one side of a piece of work at a plurality ofpoints, a jaw for engaging the opposite side of the work, a movablesupport 130 for said feelers and jaw whereby they are moved with thework while engaging the same, and'means controlled by the feeler orfeelers engaging the thinnest part of the work for retracting them allfrom the work.

8. A'machine-for carrying and distributin articles according to theirthickness, saldmachine comprising a plurality of moving feelers, springtensioned means for causing said feelers to engage one side of anarticle, means for engaging the other side ofthe article in coactiverelation with said feelers soas to support and carry the article, andmeans controlled by one of said feelers for. effecting separation ofsaid feelers and said coactive means to release the article.

9. A machine of the character described comprising caliper members forsupporting an article, a plurality of said members being disposed toengage one side of such article to caliper a plurality of portions ofthe same, a movable support for said members, and means controlled byone of said members for retracting them to release the article.

10. A machine of the character described comprising caliper members, aplurality of which are disposed to engage one side of an article tocaliper a plurality of portions of such article, and means controlled byone of said members for retracting them to release the article.

11. A machine of the character described 35, comprising caliper membersa plurality of which are disposed to engage one side of an article tocaliper a plurality of portions of such article, and means controlled bya caliper member engaging the thinnest portion for opening. the calipermembers to release the article.

12. A machineof the character described comprising an abutment forengaging one side of the work, a plurality of independently movablecaliper members for engaging the opposite side of the work at separatepoints of the same, means for moving said Copies of this patent may beobtained for means controlled by the caliper member en- 1 gaging thework at the thinnest point for opening the work-engaging members torelease the work.

13. A machine of the character described comprising calipers formeasuring the thickness of anarticle, a detector connected with thecalipers to be positioned by one of the members thereof, a series ofmembers, each adapted to coact with said detector to open said calipers,driving means for causing relative movement of said detector and saidseries of members to eifect coaction of the detector withone of saidmembers, and adjusting means for each of said members whereby any one ofthem may be rendered operative or inoperative.

1 1. A machine of the character described comprising a carrier, meanscarried by said carrier for grasping a piece of work, detecting means,means adapted to be positioned by said grasping means to position saiddetecting means, and a series of movable members arranged to be engagedand moved by said detecting means, each of said members being adapted tomove said detecting means, said positioning means, and said graspingmeans to effect the release of the work.

15. A machine for gaging and distributing articles, comprising aplurality of cooperative members for engaging opposite sides of anarticle, a plurality of said members being disposed to engage one sideof the article, yielding means for causing said members to engage thearticle with yielding force, and means controlled by one of said membersfor opening said members to release the article.

, In testimony whereof Ihave afiixed my signature, in presence of twowitnesses.

LESTER L. D. ELDERKIN.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Iatents,

Washington, D. 0.

